According to a new animal study, binge drinking during the adolescent years has lasting effects on brain function. In rat subjects, researchers found that binge drinking reduced myelin in the region of the brain crucial for decision-making and regulating emotions. The findings suggest that alcohol may negatively affect brain development in humans and have long-term consequences in parts of the brain that are important for controlling impulses and making decisions.
The Journal of Neuroscience, October 2014